Phew, long chapter today! I'm proud yet disappointed in myself. Writing about Law and Ayame when I should be studying, Shame on me! But it couldn't be helped. I expect reviews people!

Law had a headache. And not the kind that would disappear by taking a nap and a pain pill, oh no, it was a full fledged migraine! He had barely been sleeping the past two weeks and it was getting to him. He growled at the thought and then winced. Everything hurt damnit! He hated admitting defeat of any kind and bowing for something so simple as a headache was disgraceful by his code. His eyes tried to return to the book on blood coagulation in cold temperatures ha had been trying to read the last half hour, with little to no success as his concentration continued to fail him again and again. And yet he could not sleep! He sighed and put the book away, leaning his elbows on his desk that was littered with papers and put his head in his hands, taking deep even breaths. Thank god it was a quiet day.

" Captain! Captain!" he felt his right eye twitch dangerously. It was lucky that it was Bepo hollering his title and not someone lower down the food chain or he might just have killed someone, or at least rearranged their intestines.

Bepo barged into his office/bedroom after a quiet polite knock on the boor. He took one look and a sniff at Law before tilting his head to the left.

" Are you alright captain? " Law nodded gingerly, raising his head to rest his chin on his intertwined fingers instead.

" Yes Bepo. What's wrong?"

" We're out of meat!" The poor bear looked positively horrified. Law waved a hand dismissively.

" We'll eat a vegetarian diet until we reach port. "

" But captain! We ran out of vegetables two days ago! Don't you remember?" Law furrowed his eyebrows in thought, his normally half lidded eyes slightly wider as he struggled to remember. He finally had a faint recollection of Sam, the chef, entering his office to complain. The memory was blurry and Law realized he had lost track of the days. As he was thinking Ayame entered the room on lithe bare feet.

" Oi Bepo, what's the commotion about? The guys are pretty upset but they're too busy wailing on the floor to tell me what is actually wrong. "

" We're out of food." While Bepo said this Ayame looked around the furry creature to see Law slouched at his desk. Sure, he often slouched but something about it was off. It wasn't out of chosen laziness. It more looked like his body was too exhausted to hold itself up properly. Law noticed her scrutiny and gave her a nasty glare. Ayame almost took a step back at the intensity of it. " Geez, what's the death glare for,cap? Did someone mess with your books again?" She knew for a fact that Sachi every once in a while gained permission to borrow one of Law's medical books to improve himself, but he always failed to return it to it's rightful spot on Law's shelf. It annoyed Law immensely whenever it happened, he couldn't sleep if he felt that someone had tampered with his things, especially if it was within his domain (so really the whole sub, but mostly the OR, infirmary and Law's own room.)

Law only glared harder.

" Unless you have a good reason to be in here, miss Ayame, I suggest you leave now. " She looked at him, now an expression of worry etched on her face.

" Are you sure you're okay? And when was the last time you shaved? " Bepo sniffed in the air.

" He's not, and the last time must have been five days ago." a dark shadow in the form of stubble had grown out on Law's chin in the skin free of his goatee and sideburns. Ayame's concern heightened, Law was usually quite particular about his appearance ( admittedly not as perticular as Eustass Kidd but still, he had a decent amount of vanity). Law had had enough.

" Miss Ayame, get out of this room, I will not ask you again." His voice spoke of death and Ayame backed out quickly. Bepo followed a few minutes later, closing the door behind him. They walked side by side, both thinking of a way to solve the problem.

" I'm worried about Captain. He smells weird, he always does when he can't sleep." Ayame looked up at him.

" He can't sleep? That's why he's like that? I find it hard to believe. He always has dark circles under his eyes, how often does he usually sleep?"

" Rarely, but still a few hours a week. It's rarely like this though. "

" Huh, I see. " She felt the resentment directed towards Law lessen somewhat but a lack of sleep was still not a valid excuse to be mean. "Bepo, have you seen any sea creatures lately?" He looked down at her, black beads blinking.

" Yes, several, through the windows... I've seen no female bears though." He hung his head in disappointment and Ayame patted him on the back comfortingly.

" It'll happen Bepo. And I think I have the solution to our food problem. Tell the boys to bring the ship to the surface." She ran off headed for her room.

" Shouldn't I ask Captain first?!"

" Don't bother! Let him rest, Bepo!" She disappeared around the corner and Bepo contemplated everything for a moment before deciding that she was right. Captain needed to rest.

Ayame started digging around her room, looking for the swimsuit she usually wore beneath her normal clothes whenever she planned on swimming.

" Aha! There you are, you sneak! " She held it up in front of her. It was actually more of a wetsuit, now that she thought about it. It covered her upper body and hips like a second skin, reaching halfway down her upper arms and thighs. It was navy blue and had a zipper on the side to make it easier to get into. She changed quickly and strapped her sea-stone wakizashi's to her back in a cross. Then, she headed for the deck, a grin on her face. She hadn't hunted in months!

(X)

The pirates of Heart, minus their captain, were lounging outside. Some stood by the rail, looking into the ocean where the only female of their crew had disappeared thirty minutes prior. Penguin nudged Shachi.

" Oi, do you think she's dead?" Shachi shrugged.

" Don't know..." It was very quiet and not even the sound of sea gulls broke the silence, they were too far from land. Penguin sighed and leaned over to look into the sea. After a few minutes he could see something moving, or was it his imagination? Maybe he was hallucinating due to hunger...(note that he had last eaten breakfast that morning and it was now three in the afternoon).

No, something was definitely moving down there. He poked at Shachi once more who was about to slap him before he too saw what his friend was looking at.

" What the hell is that?" Shachi said.

" I have absolutely no idea, but it looks big." A few seconds later they screamed loudly as the "big thing" came flying up through the surface right at them, flying above them only to land on the deck behind them, in front of the rest of the now terrified crew. Three seconds later a second equally large "thing" landed on top of the other one, making a nice pile. On top of the two creatures landed a smaller shape, someone human with blue hair. She was grinning from ear to ear.

" Who said we didn't have any food?!" She shouted at the crew and they cheered, pumping their fists in the air as they realized the big sea creatures were edible. But they fell quiet as soon as the door to the sub slammed open to reveal their now furious captain.

" What was that infernal sound? It echoed through the entire sub, I'll have you know."

Ayame immediately jumped down to stand beside Law, gesturing at the creatures with a hand, a hesitant smile on her face.

" A squid and a small sea-king, Captain. They're both very much edible, I assure you." She bowed her head when he looked at her, her wet hair closing over her face like curtains. He looked at her for a few seconds before he nodded at Sam.

" Cook dinner now, I think we're all hungry. And you miss Ayame," He grabbed a hold of the hair at the back of her had, keeping it bowed but fixed in place "please consult me next time before you decide to attempt seizing control and make your own decisions that concern this crew. Next time, I would be very careful if I were you, when the idea of acting without my permission comes to mind. " and with that he let go of the harsh hold he had on her hair and disappeared down into the sub once more, like a ghoul returning to it's lair. The crew cheered and started assisting Sam with chopping the beasts up. Ayame stood frozen, head still bowed while her hair hid the tears threatening to spill from her light blue eyes. She finally got herself together enough to raised her head and disappear to her room to shower. Her shaking hands would not stop their trembling despite the soothing cool water, a mixture of anger and fear cursing through her. Why could she never do the right thing?! Saying the wrong things, doing the wrong things. No wonder Law was pissed.

That evening the dining room was truly alive! The disaster had been prevented and that was a good enough reason as any for the pirates to drink and be merry.

" Thank god Ayame! I thought we were done for! " Sam hit the back of Penguin's head leaving a red bump that looked painful.

" For Roger's sake, shrimp, you were without food for less than ten hours and you think you were gonna starve! You don't even know the meaning of the word, ya idiot!" While Penguin stuffed his face with stewed octopus while simultaneously nursing the back of his head Ayame smiled weakly at Sam. The man gave her a look of knowing concern and put a plate of food in front of her.

" Eat, squirt." She smiled a bit more fully but it only faintly showed in her eyes, she was still feeling very bad about the whole thing. She looked at the food in front of her and felt her stomach churn, she really didn't feel like eating at the moment. Sam held a plate filled to the brim with food in the air,

" Who will take the Captain his food?!" Ayame took that moment to push her plate towards Penguin and scurry out of the kitchen before anyone would think to suggest she do it. Facing the brooding man in charge was the farthest thing from her wish-to-do things.

In the end it was Bepo who did it, the only one who wasn't afraid of his captain's black mood. He knocked very gently on the door. Barely audible from the inside, and a faint grumble reached his acute hearing. Law was half asleep by his desk, now leaning over one of his favourite books about the Severing of Limbs in Unhygienic Environments. Bepo pushed the book from Law's limp hands and replaced it with the food, placing the book back on it's rightful spot on in the book case.

" Thank you Bepo." Law sounded extremely tired and Bepo stood looking at him, or rather the dark circles under his eyes. He sighed before moving to leave. " Bepo." He stopped and met Law's thoughtful gaze. " How is miss Ayame?" Bepo contemplated his answer for a few seconds but decided on the same thing he always did, to tell the truth.

" I'm not sure, Captain. She looked fine when she came to eat but she didn't actually eat anything, even though Sam gave her a plate himself. She smelt of salt."

" Salt as in the sea?"

" Not exactly Captain, more subtle. " Law nodded, eyes still vacant.

" Thank you Bepo. " And the bear left his best friend for the night, feeling very unsettled about everything, including the lack of female bears in the world. He sighed wistfully and trudged off back to the galley where a plate of fish awaited him, caught by Ayame especially for him. At least there was always fish.

(XXX)

The next day the tension between Law and Ayame became even more obvious. Not that they were ever in the same room but the crew felt it, as soon as Ayame left a room Law entered just seconds after, and vice versa, never truly interacting. Law hadn't even managed to take a nap during the night, blissful sleep evading him. Ayame had barely slept either, a knot tied tight in her belly hindering her form resting until four in the morning and Bepo woke her up at nine. She grumbled angrily until a thought slapped her mind,'Imagine how Law feels, he hasn't slept properly for weeks. You grumble over five hours. ' She shuddered, her hair roots still twinged whenever she ran a hand through them she had put her head sideways on her pillow when she went to bed.

She was sipping a cup of tea whilst sitting outside when she spotted something white on the horizon. Law hadn't ordered for them to submerge the night before so the crew decided to use that chance to get some air. They were lying about in random spots in the sun, soaking up vitamin D as they relaxed. 'Lazy sods.' She looked closer at the white spot, now it was closer. She squinted her eyes and shielded them from the sun with her hand to see better and dropped her mug of tea against the side of the sub, the broken pieces falling into the ocean. She quickly jumped down and sprinted for the door while shouting at the top of her lungs.

" GET OFF YOUR LAZY ASSES! MARINES SPOTTED! WHERE THE BLOODY HELL IS CAPTAIN?!" She crashed with Bepo in the galley who steadied her. " Where?"

" North north-east. They've seen us and are approaching us fast." Bepo nodded.

" Go to the navigation room and sound the alarm, I'll get Captain."

" Okay!" She did as Bepo asked and soon every man on the crew except for the navigator and the head machinist were on deck, waiting eagerly for the fight that was about to take place. Or they hoped would take place, after all Law might decide to simply submerge just to annoy the marines. It has been known to happen.

Ayame shuddered as she heard the familiar boots against the deck and everyone straightened up. She clenched her jaws to control herself, she needed to focus. She heard him stop next to her with Bepo on his other side but she didn't turn to look. She knew what he looked like.

" It seems we've got some new entertainment. No survivors men, I've no interest in experimenting today."

"PIRATE CAPTAIN TRAFALGAR LAW WITH CREW! SURRENDER IMMEDIATELY OR BE KILLED WHERE YOU STAND!" As soon as these words reached the pirates they were lost. The ships lay alongside each other within moments and the battle was a fact. Ayame licked her lips, getting into her usual fighting stance. The marines looked to be standard ranks, no admiral no nothing. Nothing a dose of fish-man-karate couldn't handle.

The battle was a bloody one, the crew had been cooped up inside the ship for a long time and their captain was equally thirsty for blood. He seemed especially ruthless that day and after a while he even sliced a marine to pieces without the use of his devil-fruit, smirking satisfied as the bloody parts scattered in a macabre work of art. He was standing at the very front of the ship, just by the railing, when the marines decided to do a little experiment of their own.

" Bring out the new bazooka!"

" Yes sir!" Seconds later Ayame froze in the middle of a move to see a bullet almost the size of a cannonball fly towards Law. He smirked

" Room... Shambles." But it didn't work! The cannonball just kept flying and had Law been in his right mind he would have just moved out of the way by taking a step to the right. But two weeks of insomnia took it's toll and it was his reflexes that took the blow. Ayame could only stare as the bullet/cannonball? ejected a net which enveloped her captain and threw him into the ocean.

" CAPTAIN!" she ran for the edge where he'd fallen, ignoring the marine laying half-dead behind her and jumped in, Bepos faint shout of her name muffled by the water.

Closing her mouth and letting her gills take her lungs' place she swan downwards faster than she ever had before. She felt the depth getting to her, being half human made her more vulnerable to diver's sickness but getting ill was the last thing on her mind. She needed to get down, get to Law and then get up FAST! She'd live and heal but Law was vulnerable down here.

Finally she saw him. He lay at the very bottom, his Nodachi still clutched in his hand, underwater vines already ensnaring his legs. Ayame unsheathed one of her knives and inspected the net. It was as she thought: Sea-stone. Luckily for Law Ayame still had some of the strength passed on through her mother's genes and she swiftly cut through it. Resheathing the knife she wrapped her arms around his torso, shot off from the bottom and began the swim for the surface. 'Come on, come on,come on!' The way up felt longer than the way down and she knew she was running out of time. Finally she saw the rays of sunlight break through the water and using her last bit of strength in her legs pushed off and flew out of the water, landing on the deck on shaking legs with Law's chest held against hers. The battle was still ongoing and Ayame felt her deeply buried protective instincts kick in and she stood crouched over Law. She could see the marines spotting her and they tried to reload the bazooka. Acting without thought she took Law's Nodachi in hand. He was still holding a death grip on the sheath but Ayame pulled the blade from it, holding it with two hands. She looked feral, her upper lips pulled back in a snarl as she walked towards the marine, completely silent. He didn't hear her approach and was too late to stop the huge blade that cut his body in half, from head to groin, in one smooth chop. He fell apart, literally, and Ayame wiped the blood from her eyes. She rushed back to Law , dropping the Nodachi and shaking him.

" Come on you ass of a captain, wake up you stupid prick! " She felt for a pulse on his throat as Shachi came over to help. " He's got no pulse!"

" We need to get his heart beating again, otherwise we'll never get the water out of his lungs! We need to perform CPR." He hesitated a millisecond too long for Ayame's panicked mind and she started pumping his chest. She looked at Law's closed eyes.

" Oh sod it!" She put her lips to his and shared breath. Once. Twice. She rose and looked at him, slapping his cheek lightly. Her nerves get the better of her when he still doesn't move. "WAKE UP LAW!" And Law gasps awake, his eyes shooting open an he leans to the side, couching up water. He falls back down on his back once he's done and looks at the sky.

" ….my head hurts..." Ayame rolls her eyes and calls Bepo over.

" Bepo, carry him inside would you?"

" Right away Ayame!" Law feels his eyes drooping again and the last thing he sees before he drifts off against Bepo'd shoulder is Ayame turning her back to him to return to the fight, her mane of hair resembling the sea as the wind flows through it.

(X)

" Penguin, I don't need an IV. " Law sighed as Penguin ignored him and continued replacing the bag of IV. His crew had been fussing over him for the past two days. He'd mostly been sleeping during that time but simply the fact that a hot meal was always waiting for him when he woke up, and that they placed him in his own bed and not the infirmary, told him of their concern. It was touching really but Law really didn't need more fluids, he'd had plenty of that during his nap on the bottom of the ocean.

Speaking of which he had yet to see a glimpse of the woman who saved him. She was avoiding him and his nurse (read Bepo) hadn't let him get up from bed yet. He chuckled to himself, Bepo could get very protective when it came to Law. They had been friends ever since Law found him abandoned by his family. They had stuck together since Law was five years old and there was no one he trusted more. He yawned, suddenly feeling very tired. He looked at the time and realized it was nine in the evening. A good enough reason to sleep as any and Law needed it. He closed his eyes and lay back, relishing the feeling of falling asleep.

Ayame looked at the clock on her bedside. 00:00. She huffed and stared at the ceiling. 'Now I know how Law felt.' It was Ayame's turn to live without rest. Sure, she fell asleep, but every time she closed her eyes she saw Law lying on deck in a pool of blood, face pale and ashen, his head in her lap. His face was sometimes that of Koro when she tried to fall back asleep after waking up in cold sweat. According to Neil, the navigator, a big marine base was just a few weeks away. 'Soon Koro, so stop haunting me, please!' She shuddered as she closed her eyes and only saw Law, dead. Opening her eyes she turned to her other side. 'Maybe it wouldn't hurt to go check if he's okay, then maybe I'll be able to sleep!' She warred with herself for at least twenty minutes before grumbling and rising from her bed. Not really planning on anyone seeing her at all she only pulled on a loose long sleeved linen shirt that hung on her like a dress and made her way to Law's room, sneaking through the shadows to avoid being seen if any of the crew were still awake. She opened his door very softly, relieved when it didn't whine or make any other unwanted noise.

She walked very carefully to his side, sitting down in the chair beside the bed and watched his face. Even in the cold light of the moon she could see the colour in his cheeks, he was neither pale nor ashen. She breathed a small sigh of relief. Ayame sat for a few minutes more before she realized what she was doing. 'Okay now you've seen him, now go sleep you silly girl! Are you really that afraid of a little nightmare?!' Just as she rose Law's lips moved.

" Spying on me, miss Ayame?" She yelped and almost ran to the door if a hand had not enveloped her wrist to stop her. " Stay, please. " she tried to move back to the chair but the hand tugged her to the edge of the bed instead. She sighed and sat down.

" So you've regained some of your politeness, I see. " Law smiled at her in the darkness. His fingers still encircled her wrist loosely, the letter barely visible in the poor light.

" And you look tired, miss Ayame. Something on your mind?" She shook her head.

" No, nothing in particular. I mean, you almost dying was smoothed over long ago. No, everything's fine, but I will be very tired and grumpy in the morning if you don't let go of my wrist soon." His thumb stroked the inside of her wrist.

" Hn, I don't feel like it. It's better if you stay here, liars should be kept under strict supervision, would you not say so, miss?" He smiled a strange smile at her, something between a normal smile and a smirk that Ayame couldn't quite place. His fingers closed around her wrist and as Law scooted to the side further to the middle of the bed he dragged her with him.

" Captain?" Her voice was hesitant and she felt her tired body complying to the wishes of the hand as soon as the feeling of warmth hit her cold feet. She let him move her around, arranging her body into a comfortable position.

" Why haven't you been sleeping well, miss Ayame?" Her head was finally laid to rest on his bicep as the hand belonging to the same hand wrapped around her shoulders, pushing her so she was facing him sideways.

" Just nightmares."

" Of?" Her tired mind didn't seem very interested in lying to the calm voice, she was just so comfortable.

" People I care about dying." Law looked down at her for a moment but she had closed her eyes. He remembered her brother and then him almost dying too. 'No wonder she's having nightmares.' He stroked the back of her head gently. She chuckled and he suddenly remembered how he had pulled it a few days prior. She had been avoiding him because she though he was angry with her.

" I apolgize. "

" What for?"

" You know what for. " He stroked her hair agin. " I was never angry with You, I was only tired. " He felt her nod.

" I understand."

They both went quiet and just before she fell asleep Law spoke again.

" And Ayame,"

" Hm?"

" I'm not going to die."

" You better not, you ass." And then the smirking captain wrapped his other arm around the woman beside him and fell asleep, neither dreaming nightmares that night.